The Athenaeum, 1879, Part I
John Francis (publisher)
1
In this electronic edition, we have omitted the pages of all issues that do not
contain material by or related to DGR. Unpaginated front and back matter from these issues has
also been omitted. The structure of this electronic document allows for the future addition of
the omitted material.
The Athanaeum
John Francis
E. J. Francis & Co.
London
1879 January - 1879 June
1879, Part I
ap4.a85
3
Commentary
Textual History: Composition
Textual History: Revision
All pages containing “Francesca Da Rimini” are formatted
in three columns.
------------------------------------------
<hi rend="c">FRANCESCA DA RIMINI.</hi>
<lb/>(Dante, Inf., c. V.)
* * * * *
When I made answer, I began: “Alas!
How many sweet thoughts and how much desire
Led these two onward to the dolorous pass!”
Then turned to them, as who would fain inquire,
And said: “Francesca, these thine agonies
Wring tears for pity and grief that they inspire:
But tell me,—in the season of sweet sighs,
When and what way did Love instruct you so
That he in your vague longing made you wise?”
Then she to me: “There is no greater woe
Than the remembrance of past happy days
In misery; and this thy guide doth know.
But if the first beginnings to retrace
Of our sad love can yield thee solace here,
So will I be as one that weeps and says.
One day we read, for pastime and sweet cheer,
Of Lancelot, how he found Love tyrannous;
We were alone and without any fear.
Our eyes were drawn together, reading thus,
Full oft, and still our cheeks would pale and glow;
But one sole point it was that conquered us.
For when we read of that great lover, how
He kissed the smile which he had longed to win,
Then he whom nought can sever from me now
For ever, kissed my mouth, all quivering.
A Galahalt was the book, and he that writ:
Upon that day we read no more therein.”
At the tale told, while one soul uttered it,
The other wept: a woe so pitiable
That I was seized, like death, in swooning-fit,
And even as a dead body falls, I fell.
DANTE G. ROSSETTI.
----------------
----------------